Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Audio Video Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, describing it as a pivotal moment for India’s creative economy.
During his speech, PM Modi highlighted that “this is an opportune moment to innovate in India and for the global audience.”
He pointed out India’s rise in the “Orange Economy,” which emphasizes content, creativity, and culture, referring to this period as the “Uday Kaal,” or the rising era of India’s creative sectors.
The Prime Minister commended the worldwide influence of Indian cinema and forecasted that Indian music, gaming, and fashion are on the verge of achieving similar international acclaim. “While the screen may be shrinking, the messages in our films are expanding,” he remarked.
He portrayed India as not just a country of over a billion individuals but also a land of countless stories, boasting a rich cinematic heritage that dates back more than a hundred years, beginning with the release of Raja Harishchandra in 1913 and extending to the global impact of icons like Dadasaheb Phalke, Raj Kapoor, and Satyajit Ray.
He expressed optimism that the Indian creative economy could significantly boost its contribution to the GDP in the years ahead.
Additionally, the Prime Minister emphasized the necessity for responsible content creation in today’s digital landscape, cautioning against a future where “humans become like robots.”
He highlighted the significance of investing in both platforms and the creators behind the content. “WAVES will link young Indians with global storytellers and elevate our gamers to international champions,” he stated.
PM Modi encouraged creators and investors worldwide to consider India as a vibrant content hub filled with opportunities and universally appealing stories. He reaffirmed that India is swiftly becoming a center for animation, visual effects, gaming, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) and called for global collaboration as technology continues to expand the creator economy’s horizons.
He also congratulated the participants of the “Create in India Challenge” and announced the initiation of the WAVES Awards to acknowledge excellence within the industry.
“WAVES is not merely an abbreviation; it embodies a genuine wave of culture, creativity, and universal connection,” PM Modi concluded.
